Collapsible cradle.



A. MELNIKER.

COLLAPSIBLE CRADLE.

APPLICATION FILED Aus.22. x911.

1,252,824. Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

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ABRAHAM MELNIKER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

COLLAPSIBLE CRADLE.

Application filed August 22, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM MELNIKER, formerly a subject of Russia, having declared my intention of becoming a citizen of the United States, residing at 220 Stockton street, Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Cradles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to collapsible cradles and cots of the kind which may be expanded so as to form a suitable bed, and which may be collapsed and folded up so as to be conveniently carried and transported in a small compass.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a device of this character that shall furnish a cheap structure that can be conveniently and compactly collapsed, and then transported in such a condition as to provide maximum strength and resist breakage. Other objects of my invention shall be set forth in the description and drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved device.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 3-is a detail view of the hinge connecting the frame pieces.

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the connection between the frame pieces and their connecting pieces.

Fig. 5 is a vertical central section of Fig. 4.

Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, illustrate how my improved cot or cradle or the like is folded up to be transported.

The cradle or cot 1 consists essentially of frame pieces 2 which may be of Wood or any other suitable material. There are four of these frame pieces 2 at the front and rear of the cradle which are connected by means of one-way hinges 3 so that when the cot or cradle has been opened to its fullest extent, and the frame pieces 2 at the front and at the rear of the cot are parallel to each other, further relative movement of these pieces is impossible. There are additional frame pieces 2 at the sides of the structure. These frame pieces 2 are connected by means of hollow angular connecting members 4: having two branches substantially at right angles to each other which may be slipped over the ends of the s1de frame Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 8, 1918.

Serial No. 187,669.

piecesand the adjacent frame pieces so as to connect them. The frame pieces 2 are connected to the connecting members 4 by means of spring fasteners 5 which spring into slots 6 in the connecting pieces a and hold the parts together, and which can be manually retracted whenever it is desired to disconnect the frame pieces 2 and the connecting members 4.

Any other suitable form of fastening means between the connecting pieces l and the frame pieces 2 may be used, such as an ordinary bolt or any other well-known device which requires no illustration in the drawings as my invention is neither directed nor limited to these specific devices in themselves.

The frame pieces are connected by a suitable fabric which is sewed or otherwise fastened to the frame pieces so as to leave arcuate corners.

When the four connecting members 4 have been respectively connected to the frame pieces 2 and the structure opened until the hinges 3 cannot be opened any farther, it may be suspended by means of strings as shown or by any other suitable means and furnishes a comfortable cradle or cot.

lVhen it is desired to transport the device, the fasteners 5 are released and the connecting members 4 are disconnected from the frame pieces 2.

Then the two end frame pieces 2 are brought together as shown in Fig. 6, so that the cot will be doubled up along the median line. In Figs. 6, 7 8 the frame pieces are shown side by side for cle-arness, but they may be placed one above the other in actual use.

Now the frame pieces 2 at the front of the cot are placed over the two frame pieces at the end of the cot, so that the device has the appearance shown in Fig. 7.

Then the two frame pieces 2 at the rear of the figure are placed over and parallel to the other frame pieces so that the device has the appearance shown in Fig. 8.

The triangular folds of the fabric 10 ar now rolled up upon the frame pieces and fastened by means of the cooperating snap fasteners 10 and 11, which are on the back of the fabric of the cot.

The positions of the snap fasteners 10 and 11 depend upon the thickness of the frame pieces and the thickness of the fabric, and this can be very easily determined.

'WltllOlli) departing from its spirit.

The bedding or other baggage may be carried in the cot when it is doubled tip as shown in Fig. 6, or When it is rolled up.

I claim l. A collapsible cradle made of a flexible fabric and a frame, said frame comprising front pieces connected by a hinge, rear pieces connected by a hinge and opposite said front pieces, side frame pieces, removable connects ing means intermediate and connecting said side pieces and said front and rear pieces, said side pieces being capable of being placed one above the other byopening said hinged front and rear pieces, and said doubled-over Gopies of this patent may be obtained for front and rear pieces being capable of being placed adjacent said side pieces.

2. A collapsible cradle made of a flexible fabric and a frame, said frame comprising front pieces connected by a'hinge, rear pieces 2 connected by a hinge and opposite said front pieces, side frame pieces, removable connecting means intermediate and connecting said side pieces and said front and rear pieces, said side pieces being capable of being placed one above the other by opening said hinged front and rear pieces, and said doubled-over front and rear pieces being capable of being placed adjacent said side pieces, said fabric being sufficiently bendable to permit the rolling thereof over the said adjacent frame pieces, the back of one of the halves of said fabric having fasteners so located that When said fabric is rolled over the said frame pieces, the said fasteners are in proper positi on to cooperate and fasten the said fabric around the said frame. a p

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ABRAHAM MELN KER,

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

